Improvement in rotary engines



G. EVENS. Rotary-Engines. A Ne. 200,036. Patented Feb. 5, |878.

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r'. PETERS. PHOTO-LITMDGRAFHEH. WASHINGTON. D 0.

UNITED STATES PATE-NT OFFICE.

GEORGE nvnns, or

OLEBURNE, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY ENGINES. v

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 200,036, dated February5, 1878; application filed' May 2, 1877. y

To all 'whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE EVENS, of Cleburne, in the county of Johnsonand State of Texas, have invented an Improvement in Rotary Engines, ofwhich the following is a specification:

My improvement consists, rst, ina peculiar packing or frame for therecessesin the wheel. The arms of the frame are pressed outward by thesteam acting on the under edges of said arms, so as to securely pack therecesses and confine the steam. As soon as the steam is exhausted theframe assumes its normal position, passing freely within the casing ordrum surrounding the wheel.

My improvement consists, secondly, in providing the steam-valves witharms which are operated by means of rods located between the abutmentsand said arms.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a transverse section of myimproved engine onllthe line l l, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a"sectionalelevation on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a verticall* section of thevalves and ports detached. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the packingdetached from its recess inthe wheel.

A represents a wheel or cylinder, mounted on a shaft, S, having bearingsin a suitable case, Y. The peripheryfof the wheeljisre.- cessed to formpistons B, leaving a central wallfAl, between said pistons-jTherecessesare provided with a frame or packing, E, of any suitable material, andwithin this :packing the abutments C operate. The abutments are pivotedat c within chambers C', and' may @be projected byfimeansof rsprings c.Surrounding the wheel A is a drum, A2, slotted and perforated to admitthe heads of 'the abutments and the induction and eduction steam-pipes,respectively. Resting on the free ends of the abutments are rods F,which may be forced inward by means of springs f. D are oscillatingvalves, having arms el. These arms rest upon the heads of Y the rods F.G is the steam-supply pipe.

Steam is introduced to the drum through ports y, leading from the-valvesV D and exhausted through pipes H. The wheel is kept from swayingfrom side to side by means of rings I pressed inward by screws J. Aframe,

K, forms a support for the rods F. The pistons B'alternate on each sideofthe central wall A1 of the wheel.

Excavations b are formed in the sides of the recesses lbeneath the armsc of the frame E.

- Operation: 'One of the abutments falling f into a recess in the wheellowers a rod, F, carrying with it the arm d resting thereon. This actionopens a valve, D, thus permitting steam to pass into the recess betweena piston, B, and the head of the abutment. rI he steam, expanding withinsaid recess, forces round the wheel. At the same time the arms of theframe are pressed outward against the casing A2 by the action of thesteam within the excavations b', so as to securely pack the recess. Theinclined portion b of the next piston raises the abutment,cuts off thesteam from that side of the wheel, and the forward piston pass ing apipe, H, the exhaust-steam escapes, and the packing or frame assumes itsnormal position, and passes freely within the easing or drum. As soon asone abutment commences to rise, its valve is closed, and the abutment onthe other side of the wall A1 is dropped by a piston-head passing frombeneath it, thus opening the valve on the opposite side, so that acontinuous pressure of steam is kept on the wheel.

It will be seen that the steam passing from the boiler to the enginepasses without obstruction onto the wheel, filling up the recesses orbuckets instantly, whereas, if it had to pass any valves or otherobstructions, it would, of course, lose power. In this case it does notpass any obstruction, for the oscillating valves D D are openedalternately, and remain open until the abutments C C run twothirds ofthe distance of the recess, when, reaching that point, the steam is cutolf instantly. The steam is not cut off gradually, as in otherslide-valve engines. After the abutments have passed two thirds of thelength of the recesses there is no more pressure on them, thuspermitting the abutments to rise without friction.

The frame E forms a complete self-packing device, confining the steamonly at the time it is in action.

Some of the advantages possessed by this form of engine are as follows:An increase in power is obtained; few parts, which are cheaplymanufactured; only a single Wheel or cylinder is employed; the steamacts with continuousV force upon the Wheel; can be used in either ahorizontal or vertical position. Y

WVhen the engine is used in vertical posi- Y tion, as shown, the springsfor projecting the abutments and for pressingthe rodsinward may bedispensed with, as these parts will then fall by gravity.

When the springs j are used, the springs c', shown in dotted lines inFig. l, may be dispensed with.

The pistons being arranged alternately on each side of the central WallA1, the Wheel or cylinder is fwell balanced. Y Y

'A governor can be applied on the top of thevalvesl), and be connectedwith the main shaft in any suitable manner.

Within the cylinder, instead of using the sides of the easing, as inprevious devices, thus pre# venting an amount of side friction by havingthe steam expand Within the motor.

The machine can be used in a horizontal position, and operated Withouttheuse of springs, Y

having pistons B and abutments C, as and for the purpose set forth.

V2.V The Vcombination of the frame E having arms e, and WheelAhaving-pistons B, and excavations b under said arms, as set forth.

' V3.' The combination :of Wheel A having pistons B, valves D havingarms d, rods F, and Y Y Y Y Y abutments C, as and for the purpose setforth. In my wheel the steam-chambers are formed Y v GEORGE' EvEns.

1 Witnesses:

J. K. KEATING, Y M. E. DAVIE.

